The Easiest Target

He Won't Win

Apparently Tokyo won't be home until nine when he gets off work.

Kate cries when she walks in on me changing out of my jacket in the bathroom and sees my arms. Any irritation she had about me sleeping vanishes into pity. I try to convince her it doesn't hurt as bad as it looks. She squeezes my arm to prove I'm lying. Trying to explain Athan was 'just trying to take me to bed' makes her freaks out even more.

She coops herself up in her room the rest of the night and leaves me and Dr. Kinsley alone.

"Kate has had a difficult life growing up. Particularly after hitting puberty," Dr. Kinsley says heavily, serving me a bowl of some sort of soup. Something smells unfamiliar for a second — then I see it float to the top: bacon. He pours himself a cup of wine with his dinner. "I think she's been in love with Azan her whole life. He was such a charming boy."

"You knew him?"

"I did," he smiles melancholically. "His mother was at the hospital often. He took care of her since he was young. Kate had a weak spot for him. Still does. He's a nice boy. I wish Tokyo had learned something from him."

I purse my lips, tearing up just recalling how Athan slammed me to the floor. Or the time he kicked me in the bathroom. He never seemed like the type to get violent towards women. I must be so special to him. It makes me sick hearing this man wish Tokyo learned anything from Athan.

Dr. Kinsley continues to eat, either not caring or not noticing that I'm not eating. He talks on and on about how troubling Tokyo's been because of me and how obsessive and protective he is over his sister. How he doesn't listen to a word he says and how his divorce from Kate's mother and her ultimate death was all Tokyo's fault.

The doorbell rings, a welcome the distraction — except Dr. Kinsley doesn't get the door. It unlocks. "Tadaima," Tokyo says listlessly. Thud. "Hadeel?" he whispers in horror.

He grabs the back of my chair, staring at the cold food on the table and the empty wine bottle. "What the hell are you doing?!" he asks his dad. "Why is she here?"

"She claims Azan hurt her. I didn't want you going to jail for murder again." He takes the wine bottle and gets up. "I won't clean up your mess again. Leave the poor guy alone and send her back. Stay out of their problems." He retreats to his room with the bottle of wine.

The second the door clicks shut, Tokyo drops to his knees and takes heaving breaths of air, his whole body shaking. I slowly join him on the floor, blinking back tears, unsure of how to comfort him. "Toki," I bleat.

"Did he hurt you?" he whispers. That was a question about his father, not Athan.

I cover my eyes for a second, force back a sob and tears. I knew I should've trusted my gut. Something about his dad seemed so off. I shake my head. "What did Azan —"

I shake my head and fake a smile. "Your dad just caught me skipping."

"He didn't hurt you?" he presses. I shake my head. "Usotski," he spits. He gets up and stares at the table again. "Did you eat that?" I shake my head. "Good," he lets out a shaking sigh. He's rattled. He examines the soup, sniffs it then throws a glare down the hall like he's ready to fight. "Where's Kate?"

"In her room."

He clears the table and comes back, bending down then stopping himself from extending a hand to help me. He squats slowly when I don't get up. Then he sits, his head hung. "Why didn't you call me?"

"Your situation doesn't seem any better than mine," I whisper, my voice shaking. "He's awful. I hate him. I hate how he talks about you. You're nineteen. Why are you still here?"